Guide to cruise ships

My wife, Gerry, and I have found the “Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships” by Douglas Ward (Berlitz Publishing, 800/432-6277 — $29.99) very useful. It is published annually.

In addition to rating a ship and its accommodations, food, service and entertainment, it offers a good insight into the passengers you are likely to find (general ages, whether they are mostly single or married or families with children, whether they care about entertainment versus lectures, casual versus formal, etc.).

From our viewpoint, the information it gives about provisions for the handicapped is key, like the number of wheelchair-accessible cabins and the availability of elevators.

This is a great time saver if you use a wheelchair and you see a possible cruise on a ship you have never been on.

BILL & GERRY BRYANT

Middletown, NJ